Painting 101

Preparing the Room to Paint

Before you begin to paint, move away any objects that are not to be painted, including: furniture, pictures, lighting fixtures, wall hangings, switch plates and outlet covers. Be sure to cover your floors with a drop cloth, or plastic sheeting. Newspapers and sheets are not recommended as they allow the paint to soak through them.

If you are painting the walls in the room, use painter's tape to keep paint off the trim and windows. This is important, and will save you time in the long run.

Peel off all painters tape before the paint is dry. Dry paint can cause the painter¹s tape to tear or pull some of the new paint off the surface you just painted, making it even harder to remove. If the paint has started to dry before you have a chance to remove the tape, run a razor blade lightly along the painters tape to insure a clean edge when the tape is removed.

Be sure to maintain proper ventilation in the area during painting and while paint is drying by opening doors and/or windows.

Painting Tips

When painting a room, it's best to paint the ceiling first, followed by the walls, with the trim, cabinets, and doors painted last. Work from the top down. In order to keep a wet edge, only cut in one wall at a time before you begin painting with rollers.

Brushes are used to cut in around the ceiling, trim, windows, and doors before using a roller. They are also used to paint the trim, window frames and doors. There are a number of brush sizes available in both straight edge and angled sash. Your choice depends upon the size of the area you are painting and whether you prefer a straight edge or an angled sash. Rollers are a great time saver for painting larger flat surfaces such as ceilings and walls. Roller covers come in various nap lengths. Your choice depends upon whether the surface to be painted is smooth or if it is more textured. The more textured the surface, the longer the nap should be in order to allow the fibers to push the paint into the crevices on the surface.

High quality applicators will provide the best painting results. Cheap or low quality applicators can make the best quality paint look and perform poorly. Cheap roller covers do not spread the paint evenly on the surface, and often leave fuzz from the roller on the wall. Inexpensive brushes are harder to use because they do not spread the paint evenly and leave unsightly brush marks. High quality applicators can be cleaned and used again.

When painting, always work from the dry area into the adjoining wet paint area. Use the "N" technique when using a roller. Load the roller completely. Apply the paint in the form of an "N" in a 2' x 2' area. Fill in the center of the "N" with horizontal strokes from side to side. Lightly smooth the painted area with vertical strokes from top to bottom. Continue to use the "N" pattern with a freshly loaded roller directly below the first "N", working until you reach the bottom of the wall.

Timesaving Tip: If you take a short break from painting, you can wrap your applicators tightly in a plastic bag or aluminum foil instead of washing them!

Always be sure to stir the paint thoroughly before using and do not thin the paint. If you are using more than one gallon of the same color, mix them together in order to insure color consistency. Paint when the room and surface temperature is 50°F or above. Avoid touching, wiping, or wetting a freshly painted surface for 30 days to allow the paint to completely cure. After 30 days, the painted surface can be cleaned with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and water. Do not place or hang objects on the surface until the paint is thoroughly dry.

Remember: It¹s important to follow the directions on the back of the paint label. It contains the most important information you need for your painting project.